Egypt

Queen Hatshepsut

Thoughts of visiting Egypt conjure images of pyramids, sphinxes and Pharaohs - but soft sand Mediterranean beaches, lush tropical oases, scuba diving excursions and desert safaris may be some of the best-kept secrets of this fascinating destination.

Situated on the northern portion of the African continent, Egypt is isolated from other lands by deserts on two sides, which stand in contrast to the fertile banks of the Nile River. A desert safari does away with convention and lets visitors revel in the verdant Bahariya Oasis, see the unusual rock formations of the White Desert and bathe in natural hot springs.

Sphinx and the Great Pyramid

Of course, no visit to Egypt would be complete without a sightseeing expedition to Giza, just south of Cairo, to see the ancient pyramids. Khufu's Pyramid is the tallest and covers about 13 acres of land. Two other pyramids stand on the Giza plateau as does the iconic Great Sphinx and Giza Village, the pyramid town thought to be the royal residence during the great monuments' construction period. It's a significant find and is still slowly being uncovered by archaeologists.

 Capital: Cairo
Language: Arabic
Time: GMT +2 hrs
Currency: Egyptian pound (EGP)

An excursion to the west bank will take you to the Temple of Luxor, a magnificent site built by pharaohs for rituals and festivities, as well as the Karnak Temple and the Valley of the Kings and Queens. If all this is not enough for you, cruises down the Nile, fishing expeditions and Moses Mountain await you in this most captivating ancient land.